Mana (skeleton)

Mana's skeleton was transferred to the Kyoto University in Japan to be further studied. She was estimated to have been 161 to 164 centimeters in height and having died between the ages of 40 and 60 years old. Her body was tall, muscular and tough, while she was probably right handed. She was adapted to heavy mastication, and strenuous physical activity involving the neck, arms and feet, similar to other Lapita-age skeletons. She most probably gave birth to at least one child.^[1] The roots of her teeth were stained brown, perhaps from chewing roots of kava, a mildly narcotic drug.^[4]

While at the Kyoto University she underwent forensic facial reconstruction using computer modeling. Her skull is the only one of a Lapita-era skeleton that has been so well preserved that it was possible to faithfully reconstruct the head. Her facial features had characteristics associated with Polynesian, Fijian and Asian ancestry, however she does not clearly align with any one of these groups.^[1]

In order for her age to be determined her bones and some of the shells that were found in her grave were transferred to the Nagoya University in Japan and the University of Waikato in New Zealand. There they underwent radiocarbon dating, with the results estimating that she in lived in 800 BCE or earlier. No DNA could be recovered from her skeleton.^[1]

In December 2003, Mana's skeleton was returned from Japan to Moturiki in Fiji. Upon its return, her remains were placed inside a coffin and she was formally re-buried in the Naitabale archaeological site where she was discovered.^[1]